Saturday 29 September 2012

 
En route from Memphis towards the Smokey Mountains, we passed through Lawrenceburg, Tennessee which was the birthplace of Davy Crockett.  Seemed surreal as we had visited the Alamo in San Antonia, Texas which is where he died.
 
 
This is the David Crockett State Park. Autumn is arriving but there were still lots of people camping and having picnics by the lake. Temperature a wonderful 25C, which we are enjoying after the heat of previous weeks. 

Friday 28 September 2012

 
We took a tour of Graceland today which was interesting, as we are not fans so weren't too sure what to expect. You are only allowed to look round the ground floor as Elvis always kept the top floor private. He bought this house when he was 22 years old for $100,000.

 
His lounge and piano room above and as you can guess, no cost was spared.
After the tour of the house, you can go across the road where you can walk around his car museum and also walk through his 2 private jets.

 
Elvis had a trophy room and the above was in his gym! Golden discs and awards everywhere!
  
 
This is Beale St in Memphis which is famous for Blues clubs. As you walk along the street, there is live music coming from everywhere.
 
 
Sitting eating Ribs and enjoying the music in Silky O'Sullivan's Irish Pub.

Thursday 27 September 2012

 
Just as we left Demopolis, Alabama this morning we passed this field full of hay bales that had been  turned into something else, which made us smile:-)

 
We haven't spent long in Alabama but found people very friendly and the scenery is very similar to England, fields and forests. Weather is very different - very warm and muggy.

 
We arrived at Memphis, Tennessee this afternoon and booked into the Days Inn Motel which is situated across the road from Graceland. The whole place is decked out with photos and memorabilia and outside and inside the foyer there is constant playing of Elvis's records. There is also a TV channel showing Elvis films. The cost is very reasonable when they could really capitalise on their location.
 

 
The pool is guitar-shaped which is kinda cool!
Sorry, there will probably be lots of photos of Graceland tomorrow!

Wednesday 26 September 2012

Here we are in Alabama. No photos just the ride today, although that was interesting, following the Gulf Coast road from New Orleans to Mobile, in Mississippi. There was a lot of clearing up going on, on the beaches, following Hurricane Isaac.
We passed through a town called Biloxi which suffered very badly with Katrina in 2005 and then the BP oil spill in 2010. There are lots of Casinos there which are now providing half of the economy and many jobs to replace those lost.  We have still seen boards on the side of the road which give phone numbers to call for BP claims (interestingly enough, all across America we haven't seen any BP garages and yet today we saw quite a few along the coast). (John used to work for BP, hence the interest).
From there we headed north, inland to a place called Demopolis in Alabama. Just a stopover, on the way to Memphis.
I am started to get used to being called Missy Anne when we check into the hotels down here, just worried that John won't forget it:-)
Also, I know we all speak English, but understanding each other can be very different. We had to smile today when in a fast food restaurant - John had sat down and was eating his wrap, when a kindly elderly lady employee came up to him and asked if he would like a tray. John replied "Thank you very much, but I'm fine".  So the lady responded, "So would that be a Yes or a No?"  All lost in translation:-)

Tuesday 25 September 2012

 
Spent the day walking around the French Quarter and took in a museum about the American Civil War, which was interesting. We also walked along Decatur Street, where you could sit at any openair bar and listen to Jazz, anytime of the day - great.

 
The French Quarter is very compact so you are able to walk round easily and there is always something going on. The temperature is still hot and humid by our standards, but to the locals this is cool as it was over 100F only a few weeks ago.

 
Bourbon Street is famous for its 'Huge Ass Beers', and very good they were too!

 
Nothing is out of place here:-)

Monday 24 September 2012

 
Yesterday we spent the day riding around New Orleans, and crossed the Pontchartrain Causeway which is 24 miles long. New Orleans sits between (and in parts below) this massive lake (which is more like a sea) and the River Mississippi and you can understand why Katrina did so much damage. The latest Hurricane Isaac didn't touch the city but flooded the outskirts.

 
Some of the damage wrought by Isaac (above & below)


 
This is the remnants of Katrina and we saw many buildings like this.

 
Looking along the infamous Bourbon St in the French Quarter renowned for Bars & Exotic Clubs.
As you walk along the street there is a cacophony of sounds from all the bars each trying to draw people in.

 
We took an evening Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise which was good fun.

 
Only downside was John having to queue for half an hour for a beer:-)

 
The food was excellent value and surprisingly good as they had to cater for so many people.
The interior was quite elaborate.
 
 
The New Orleans skyline from the back of the boat.

 
Today we visited Oak Alley Plantation which is about 40 miles west of the city.  Interesting tour of the house which gave an insight into what plantation life was like in the early 1800s.
The 28 oak trees were planted approx 300 years ago and formed an avenue between the house and the Mississippi river.  There is now a 30ft levee which blocks the view of the river from the house.